“She will be.”
Nora swallowed. “I know she’ll find her treatment in prison more humane because of your efforts.”
Aunt nodded. “That is our aim.”
“And a noble one,” Nora agreed. “I’ve come to—”
“One moment, please.” Aunt raised her hand, then turned to another maid, just entering the room with a tea tray. “That should have been placed before my guest arrived.”
The woman apologized with a quick bob and scurried from the room, face red and crumpled.
“She’s new. From the refuge,” Aunt Wilcox explained. “You must forgive her failings. Margot just started upstairs yesterday. She’s intelligent, though. I’ve no doubt she’ll improve.”
Nora looked back toward the empty doorway. “That’s very commendable.” Even if she thought it might be done with a little more kindness.
Aunt waited expectantly.
“I wanted to discuss a scheme I have,” Nora began. “For the education and improvement of women. It bears on this recent case and your own work. I’d like to establish a training program for midwives.”
“I don’t—”
“As you know, there are some unqualified women—”
Aunt Wilcox snorted. “I’d say. My physician, Dr. Adams, abhors the lot of them.”
“I’m familiar with his argument. But it is a very limitedview—tainted, I think—because he is a man. If I could impart a female perspective…” Nora held her breath, but Aunt Wilcox didn’t object, though her brows lowered.
“When I worked in Italy, it was common for midwives to learn from each other, as they do here, but also from doctors and surgeons. They frequently work alongside them, even. When there are complications, a surgeon is summoned. But when matters proceed smoothly, he or she can confidently entrust a woman’s care to the midwives.”
Aunt scowled slightly—whether in doubt or disdain, Nora couldn’t tell.
“There are extremely skilled and experienced midwives here in London, treating hundreds of women unable to afford physicians.”
“The charity hospitals are free,” Aunt countered. “They could have a baby with a physician attending, all without a farthing.”
“It sounds reasonable,” Nora conceded. “But I know a great deal about such hospitals and doctors. The vast majority are students who have seen one or two births. And the close quarters spread disease. Most women, rich or poor, prefer to be attended in their own homes.”
The maid returned and lowered the tray to the table with a wobble that made Nora flinch. Luckily, the tea service landed safely. “We’ll serve ourselves,” Aunt said, dismissing her, and turned back to Nora. “According to Dr. Adams—”
“He does have some valid critiques,” Nora admitted, the words grating her throat. “But I think those are best resolved by improving the education offered to women and creatingstandards like those that govern doctors and apothecaries. If it works for those professions, why not for midwives as well? In Bologna, medical professors train and work beside the midwives, who attend some of the same classes as the surgical students—”
Aunt replaced her cup in her plate with a clink. “The same classes? The men and women together…” Aunt exhaled in a tight huff. “Do you know how long and hard I’ve worked to have female prisoners given their own wards? The impropriety of the male inmates is beyond description. Mixed company in such settings—”
“The medical setting is quite different.” Nora pushed away inconvenient memories of bawdy medical students casting sideways glances at her as they discussed cervixes and birth canals.
“Impossible. I cannot contemplate such a thing. To view and discuss such intimate concerns—”
“I quite see your point,” Nora said smoothly. She must switch tacks to ensure Aunt Wilcox didn’t dismiss her out of hand.
“That is why I propose teaching midwives at my own hospital, in a setting entirely female. My best student, Mrs. Franklin, is learning the safe use of forceps. She’s far more experienced than any student at Bart’s.”
“But what does any of this have to do with your visit today?” Aunt might have learned to position her eyebrows from the tzarina herself. Nora had never seen such a superior expression.
“You’ve heard of the petition trying to outlaw midwives?”
“The one my nephew signed and you did not? Yes, I have.”
Nora swallowed, ignoring the barb. “Daniel signed it onlybecause he believes midwives should be trained, not outlawed. And I agree. If Mr. Adams has his way, they will make midwifery illegal, and we will see even more women turning to shamsters out of desperation, just to have someone attend their births.”
